Photo by: George Eid

“I couldn’t believe at first. I said it was a joke like the ones we used to hear about the end of all conflicts” said Ahmed, a 19 year old student, to iloubnan.info, as he stood and watched as strikers dismantling the tents that they occupied.

After PS Berri launched his call earlier today, and within a few hours, Hebzollah and FPM members along with other party members from the opposition headed toward the sit-in and started tearing down the tents in downtown Beirut, under the cameras of the national and international press, and many citizens who stood in hundreds as observers. Hezbollah’s security members still watched over the operation, coordinating and directing the works and containing the media.

Tony Nakkour, a coordinator from the FPM movement, was active in lifting the tents. He stated to iloubnan.info: “This is the day we have been waiting for a while now. Because Lebanon has always been one, one for all the Lebanese. Neither for a victor nor a defeated. This is a victory for Lebanon as a whole.” And in answer to a question about the meaning of the sit-in of Downtown-Beirut, Nakkour explained: “This here is the land of freedom and independence. This sit-in has set the truth free. The truth of a unified Lebanon, for all the Lebanese and not for a party on the account of the other.” On the other hand, Nakkour said:” This summer will be successful; we are pleased of what is happening specially that we are on the right track now. We achieved a unified government.” He added : “We will finally get back to our daily life and to our jobs, in a new Lebanon”.